The players of both teams temporarily returned to their respective rest areas.
"What's going on? Why did it suddenly stop?"
"It was Sannoh who called the timeout. Why?"
"The game is so exciting! Why is there a timeout?"
"I don't know. Since it was Sannoh who called the timeout, there must be some problem that we haven't discovered!"
The audience, who were originally excited by the intensity of the competition, just felt a little uncomfortable all over. Why did it stop suddenly? They haven't seen enough!
On the Sannoh bench, a group of Sannoh team members returned, looking at their coach with some confusion. Goro Domoto glanced at everyone and said in a deep voice, "There's actually no need to call this timeout, but we didn't score any points in 2 minutes. This is a problem in itself." He paused for a moment, then continued, "Shohoku is now at its most powerful. We need to change our strategy and attack their weak points."
Goro Domoto thought for a moment, locked eyes with Kazunari Fukatsu, and said solemnly, "The biggest gap in the matchup right now is at the point guard, so... Fukatsu, it's up to you from now on."
Upon hearing this, Kazunari Fukatsu nodded vigorously with a firm look in his eyes and replied in a firm tone, "Okay, leave it to me!"
On the Shohoku bench, Coach Mitsuyoshi Anzai was methodically planning the next tactics for his players. "The opponent will definitely choose a targeted tactic next," he said, turning his gaze to Ryota Miyagi. "Miyagi... the opponent is likely to use you as a breakthrough point, you should pay more attention to this." He did not directly say that Ryota Miyagi had the biggest gap with the other party among all people, for fear of undermining Ryota Miyagi's confidence. Ryota Miyagi nodded seriously to show that he understood.
Coach Mitsuyoshi Anzai adjusted his glasses, a light flashed through the lenses, and then he said, "Then let's score a goal first! We must take the initiative first." After he finished speaking, he turned his head and looked at Jack Carter. "Jack Carter, it's up to you to break the current deadlock!"
Jack Carter, who was sitting next to him, shrugged nonchalantly, indicating that he felt no pressure at all.
Beep...
The whistle sounded. The pause time was over. The game started again.
Sannoh's attack was swift, and they reached Shohoku's half in no time. Kazunari Fukatsu dribbled the ball and scanned the positions of the players on the court, as if looking for a passing route. Ryota Miyagi was completely focused, his eyes fixed on Kazunari Fukatsu's every move, not daring to slack off for even a moment.
Suddenly, without warning, Kazunari Fukatsu raised the basketball high, with a determined look in his eyes, and aimed directly at Shohoku's basket. This sudden scene made Ryota Miyagi's face darken. "This is too much. This doesn't take me seriously at all! It's really murderous and heartbreaking!" Kazunari Fukatsu then said, "I'm sorry, but this is the reality!" As soon as he finished speaking, he shot the basketball without hesitation.
Ryota Miyagi was furious. Even though he was full of resentment, he still gritted his teeth and jumped high with all his strength, trying to intercept the ball. However, the cruel reality was before him. Even if he jumped with all his might, his fingertips could not even reach the edge of the basketball. This is not a problem of strength, but the huge natural difference in height that makes him helpless.
"Damn it!" Ryota Miyagi cursed in his heart, feeling very unwilling, but there was nothing he could do. The Shohoku crowd didn't expect Kazunari Fukatsu to use such a bold shot. But come to think of it, there is a huge height difference between the two, so it is understandable that Kazunari Fukatsu took advantage of this. This is the only shortcoming that Shohoku cannot make up for at present.
The basketball flew towards Shohoku's basket like an arrow. At this moment, Takenori Akagi under the basket suddenly roared, pushed off the ground with his feet, jumped high with big strides, stretched out his arms, trying to intercept the shot. But because the ball came too suddenly, his fingers only lightly touched the edge of the basketball. Just wiped it lightly. Takenori Akagi himself was not sure whether he actually touched the ball. It is possible that it was just the airflow caused by the high-speed basketball.
After landing, he hurriedly looked back. The basketball flew over the basket and then fell down. Finally, with a "bang", it hit the basket heavily. Upon seeing this, everyone in Shohoku breathed a sigh of relief, their hearts temporarily at ease.
A hint of surprise flashed in Kazunari Fukatsu's eyes. He was originally very confident about this goal, but he didn't expect it to miss. Did the ball get touched just now? There was a hint of solemnity in his eyes as he looked towards Takenori Akagi. He made a careful calculation before deciding to suddenly shoot, but he didn't expect the opponent to react so quickly. "Takenori Akagi..." Kazunari Fukatsu whispered in his heart.
At this moment, Takenori Akagi had no time to care about Kazunari Fukatsu's thoughts. He stared at the pop-up basketball and immediately rushed to the basket to grab the rebound. At this moment, Masashi Kawata also rushed over like a whirlwind and quickly blocked Takenori Akagi's position, making it difficult for him to jump.
Seeing that the basketball was about to fall, Masashi Kawata suddenly exerted force and used his body to push Takenori Akagi back half a step. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he pushed off the ground with his feet, jumped high, and reached out to grab the falling basketball, obviously intending to dunk the ball directly after catching it.
Takenori Akagi was shocked when he was pushed away. "This guy has great strength." Looking at Masashi Kawata, who had already jumped high, Takenori Akagi was filled with helplessness and could only sigh secretly in his heart. He understood that he was no longer able to stop the other party.
"Be careful behind..."
Just when Masashi Kawata was about to hold the basketball with both hands, Eiji Sawakita's urgent shout suddenly reached his ears. When Masashi Kawata heard the shout, his heart instinctively tightened, and an ominous premonition came over him.
Next second.
Masashi Kawata only felt a gust of wind whistling past his side, and a hand stretched out like lightning and touched the basketball one step ahead of time. His pupils suddenly shrank, and shock instantly filled his eyes. He glanced sideways and saw the familiar face, his eyes widened immediately.
"It's him again." Masashi Kawata was shocked. Because the owner of this hand is Jack Carter.
After Jack Carter grabbed the ball, he swung his arm and grabbed the basketball steadily into his hands like a cheetah pouncing on its prey.
Step... step...
Jack Carter and Masashi Kawata landed almost at the same time. But before Masashi Kawata could react, Jack Carter kicked the ground and shot out like an arrow.
"So fast." Masashi Kawata's heart suddenly sank when he saw Jack Carter rushing out. The starting speed was so fast, it seemed like an arrow.
Seeing Jack Carter counterattacking with the ball, Eiji Sawakita quickly got into position and tried to block Jack Carter's way. The two men stood facing each other, and in an instant, they collided like two meteors.
Eiji Sawakita came up closely and started a thrilling offensive and defensive battle with Jack Carter. Starting from midfield, the two seemed to turn into two afterimages, one red and one white, moving around the court freely.
Jack Carter's movements were as fast as lightning, his dribbling arms were steady and powerful, and his dribbling speed and moving speed were perfectly coordinated, making it impossible for Eiji Sawakita, who was defending closely, to find a chance to steal the ball.
Such a fast-paced confrontation forced Eiji Sawakita to stay highly focused at all times when defending and not dare to relax at all.
The two men attacked and defended each other, and the fierce contest lasted for more than ten seconds and it was still difficult to determine the winner.
Both the Sannoh players and the Shohoku players were shocked when they saw this scene. For everyone in Sannoh, they are very clear about Eiji Sawakita's strength, which is the top level in the country.
Jack Carter was able to maintain a stalemate with Eiji Sawakita. Although they had anticipated this possibility before the game, they were still deeply shocked when they saw it with their own eyes.
On the Shohoku side, the familiar scene before their eyes also made the team members feel deeply moved. They knew that Eiji Sawakita was very strong, even stronger than Shinichi Maki. But it is still surprising to see the fierce confrontation between Eiji Sawakita and Jack Carter under their ordinary appearance.
After all, the last time we saw such a tit-for-tat scene was when Jack Carter and Shinichi Maki entered their "wild" state.
The fierce competition on the court continued. Other Sannoh players returned to defense in time, and Jack Carter also rushed to the three-point line of Sannoh with the basketball, and Eiji Sawakita followed closely, not leaving even a step.
At this time, Sannoh's Satoshi Ichinokura and Masahiro Nobe were on high alert, ready to assist Eiji Sawakita in defense at any time.
Jack Carter ignored the two people in front of him and rushed straight towards the two people like a mad bull without slowing down.
Seeing this, Satoshi Ichinokura and Masahiro Nobe wondered how they would let Jack Carter break through so easily.
The two of them took a step inward at the same time, like an elevator door closing, instantly blocking Jack Carter's way.
Jack Carter, who was sprinting at full speed, raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a confident smile.
The next moment, he suddenly changed direction, his figure flashed, and he passed by the two men on the left side like a ghost.
Eiji Sawakita, who was originally defending closely, was caught off guard by this sudden move.
Previously, due to the large defensive space, he was able to defend very comfortably and was very close to Jack Carter.
But at this moment, teammates Satoshi Ichinokura and Masahiro Nobe became a natural "human wall".
This "wall" not only failed to stop Jack Carter, but instead stopped itself.
Unless Eiji Sawakita, like Jack Carter, also goes around from the left to continue defending.
But in this way, he would inevitably be one step slower than Jack Carter.
Facing an opponent like Jack Carter, who is extremely fast, a single step slower could lead to a complete loss.
If you choose to go around from the right, then it goes without saying. Unless you make an accurate prediction in advance, otherwise, the delay will be more than just one step.
Satoshi Ichinokura and Masahiro Nobe seemed to be aware of the problem, but at this moment, there was nothing they could do.
Jack Carter was seen bypassing the two people from the left side while suddenly stepping on the ground and jumping up. In the second half, he almost flew around them.
He held the basketball in his left hand and gently hooked it towards Sannoh's basket.
Whoosh…
The basketball flew out of Jack Carter's hands, drew a beautiful arc in the air, gradually rose higher, passed the basket, and finally went into the net.
Swish...
The sound of the basketball entering the net was crisp and pleasant.
Shohoku 2, Sannoh 0.
Shohoku scored first.
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